Chapter 19
E ven after finding and training a new event manager for the resort, I was still feeling stressed every day trying to manage all the things.
This morning, it was the business development project, this afternoon was mostly spent in emails and calls with Hazel’s agent and potential publisher, and then I spent the evening at home brainstorming some ideas and assembling them into an agenda for tomorrow’s meeting with Hazel and Jeff.
I was barely sleeping, so I was exhausted, today even more than usual.
So instead of going to bed early as any sane person would do, I chose to pour a glass of wine, sink into the couch with my Santa Claus slippers and fleece Christmas blanket, and surf the web for a while.
Did people still say “surf the web,” or was that outdated?
I had no idea. I laughed out loud, reminding myself to ask Lila next time I saw her.
But the web was not surfed, as I found myself instead opening the gaming site chat window.
I chuckled. Hadn’t Jeff said something similar earlier this week? It was still weird to even think about that interaction. I’d always assumed he had such a big ego, but it seemed there was more to him. Maybe.
Why are you thinking about your co-worker now?
Shaking my head, I set my fingers on the keyboard and inhaled slowly.
SawyerRox4: Can I ask you a question?
CastGamer55: Sure.
SawyerRox4: You couldn’t be actually flattered, like in that way, because that would not be cool with your wife. Or husband, or whatever.
CastGamer55: LOL. That was the most awkward way anyone’s ever asked me if I’m single.
SawyerRox4: Dying inside
CastGamer55: Hey, I’ve been wanting to ask you that for months. At least you did ask.
SawyerRox4: True. So I’m the idiot and you’re the coward?
CastGamer55: Haha, something like that.
CastGamer55: To answer your question, I’ve just come out of a long-term relationship. With a woman.
SawyerRox4: Ah, sorry, I hope it wasn’t too brutal.
CastGamer55: Oh, it was and it is.
SawyerRox4: Kids?
CastGamer55: One.
SawyerRox4: Grown up?
CastGamer55: How old do you think I am? LOL
SawyerRox4: Uh … 55? or maybe older, since you’ve had that handle for a while
CastGamer55: You assumed I was 55? All this time, you thought you were talking to a 55-year-old who was potentially married with grown-up kids?
SawyerRox4: Well, I didn’t know. We never talked about personal stuff before...
CastGamer55: I’d argue many of our discussions are very personal, more personal than I’ve ever had in some cases.
SawyerRox4: Now I’m flattered. ;) But you’re probably right
CastGamer55: Your turn.
SawyerRox4: For what?
CastGamer55: Married with a dozen kids? Or in your 70s? Please tell me you’re not a teenager, at least.
SawyerRox4: Oh. I’m 28. Single, obviously
CastGamer55: Why obviously?
If I truly answered that question, he’d just be dismissive like everyone else and say it’s all in my head.
And I didn’t want him to be dismissive. Because … maybe there was something between us. Or there could be in the future. He wasn’t old enough to be my father, after all. Not that I’d ever really believed that.
SawyerRox4: I don’t know. So hey, we supposedly have a blizzard coming tomorrow, so there’s always a chance I won’t get online tomorrow night. I can still work on the game design stuff though. Just so you know
Was that weird? I didn’t need to report my whereabouts or forewarn him that I might not be here to chat, so … I don’t know why I did.
Or maybe I did.
After a long pause, he continued the conversation.
CastGamer55: We have a blizzard warning here too. Curious, where are you at? I heard Minnesota was going to have the worst of it.
SawyerRox4: Oh, are we really doing that?
CastGamer55: ?
SawyerRox4: More personal details?
SawyerRox4: OK, fine. I’m in southern Minnesota. Rural, less than two hours southwest of the Twin Citie s
CastGamer55: Wow, I’m kind of in that region too.
My heart started pounding in my chest.
He … he lived near me?
I didn’t know if my sudden perspiration was excitement or anxiety about this prospect, but I kicked off the blanket and tried to calm my shaking hands to type a response.
SawyerRox4: Seriously? That would be crazy
CastGamer55: Yes. And yes.
SawyerRox4: I’m going to be honest, because I’ve had a teeny bit of wine...
CastGamer55: OK.
SawyerRox4: Knowing you’re in the same neck of the woods feels kind of surreal. I can’t even … Do you know what I mean?
CastGamer55: I do. I had a situation like that a month or so ago.
SawyerRox4: OK, so you get it
SawyerRox4: Now it just feels like … we could maybe meet in person sometime, just for the heck of it. But then, it feels like our online friendship would never be the same.
CastGamer55: Is that necessarily a bad thing?
SawyerRox4: You want to meet in person??
Was that question presumptuous? I hope he didn’t take it to mean that I wanted to meet him in person. I mean, I didn’t not want to meet him in person. I’d just never seriously considered it. Well, except for maybe a few dreams causing me to blush from head to toe the next morning.
CastGamer55: Yes. How about New Year’s Eve?
What ? I checked my wine glass, and I’d barely touched my second glass yet. I couldn’t be drunk. Was he really asking me that?
SawyerRox4: Really?
CastGamer55: Well, I’m out of town for Christmas and pretty busy before that. But I could do New Year’s.
SawyerRox4: Wow, you’re serious?
CastGamer55: …
SawyerRox4: I have to go to a work party, well, kind of a work party. The boss is kind of my friend too. I think. I’m not good at recognizing when someone is a friend. Until a few minutes ago, I wasn’t even sure if you considered me a friend.
I couldn’t believe I had the courage to say all this, even online. I couldn’t believe I was even considering this. And I couldn’t believe what I typed next:
SawyerRox4: You could meet me at the party if you want.
CastGamer55: I was just going to suggest that.
SawyerRox4: Oh. You want to?
CastGamer55: Why else would I suggest it?
SawyerRox4: Fair point
CastGamer55: Mindy, will you dance with me on New Year’s Eve?